The Dark Times

With Kest gone, Bea, Cad, and friends confront a new threat: If they cannot recover the sun, their entire planet will soon freeze. Ninety-four days ago, the birdlike spirit who devoured the sun was defeated after also destroying the artificial Lights that supported life on Irpa. Our protagonists depart for the Citadel of Knowledge, seeking information about the missing sun. Between weapons practice and road patrols, Bea practices the magic that the Arsai use to tap into the consciousness of all living things. Probert depicts her anxiety and self-doubt as dark, blobby ribbons or frantic spirals of text swirling around her. A recurring vision of another spirit leads Bea to question Kest's true motivations. The Citadel's resources enable Alfirid to finally translate Cad's mysterious scrolls and lead the group to the site of an ancient tragedy, upending their beliefs about their world. This third series entry features deeper character development and introspection, creating a more intimate, though no less compelling, narrative that strengthens the characters' relationships and invites further exploration of topics such as media literacy, bias, and the politics of historical record-keeping. Vibrant, expressive art showcases the characters' personalities and emotions, the coziness of woodland camp scenes, and the striking diversity and scale of the settings the travelers traverse. Most main characters resemble human-sized, anthropomorphized animals; Bea has light skin and purple hair. A resonant, richly layered adventure with a modern yet timeless emphasis on emotional intelligence, courage, and empathy. (map, alphabets) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.